Life of a Freelance Writer

Expert Blog: Breaking into the Freelance Writing Industry

2012-01-24T10:31:00.001-08:00

By Shailynn Krow

I wanted to spend some time today talking about breaking into the freelance writing industry. A lot of people jump into the freelance writing world and think they are going to make it big overnight. Sure, some people are that lucky, though honestly I have never met or read about these so-called get rich quick writers. Ever heard the phrase “starving writer”? That is more likely than a rich writer happening overnight – to think of it, I started off on the ramen noodle budget diet. You would be surprised what you can do with those noodles and for $0.80 a pop, it is what most writers live off of.

Even famous writers like Stephan King and Michael Crichton had to put in their long hours – and they still put in their long hours today. Too many newbie writers jump into freelance writing and think they are just going to get rich and never work and these are the people that never make it.

Get to Work and Keep Working!

After 10 years of freelance writing I still work long hours. Some days I will work 5am to 7pm, while other days I work three hours. Why? Because I’m a freelancer. Work is never scheduled, never the same and it is always sporadic. You take the work when you get it because tomorrow you might have none. If you waltz into freelance writing thinking you will work when you want and have a scheduled number of hours, you might as well fill up your resume and get a real job. Freelance writing means long hours and never the same schedule. Ask any freelancer and they can tell you that.

Setting Your Own Hours by the Job Not Your Life

You should set your own hours, but by that I mean set up some working hours, but have them flexible. Example? I set myself up from 8am to 3pm for one of my clients. However I have to be flexible depending on the client I get. Two weeks ago I had a client from China. We certainly do not share the same work hours. To meet with him I had to get on Skype by 4am my time. Did that mean I woke up at 3:55am and dragged myself in robe and no makeup to my computer to chat with my client via video chat? If I had, I doubt I would have been working for them.

Instead, I woke up at 3:00am, hopped in the shower, ate and even drank a cup of coffee all before heading to the computer. I was awake, fresh and clean for my client and more importantly I was alert and professional.

Think of the Competition

I cannot tell you how many writers I have met who are lazy and just figure they will find work later. These are the people that you see at Costco working part-time because their freelance writing career has got them nowhere. I have never taken a side job in my 10 years of freelance writing. Why? Because I know the competition and I strive to beat them every time.

Who are your competitors? Aside from the hundreds of thousands of so-called “freelance writers” in the United States, you are also competing against writers in China, India and other countries – all of which have impeccable work ethic in comparison to U.S. writers. U.S. writers, in all honesty, are lazy. Deadlines mean nothing to them, they work slow and they don’t know the meaning of hard work. Writers in other countries are willing to do twice as much, twice as fast and for half the pay of U.S. writers. More clients are opting for non-U.S. writers simply because they know they will get their work on time, in bulk and for half the price. Can you blame them?

Start thinking in terms of competition. There are perhaps a few thousand jobs per month available and usually several hundred writers that apply for the same exact position. If you have history of missing deadlines, poor work quality or inability to comprehend simple instructions, you will not make the cut. Your portfolio, client referrals and feedback have to be extraordinary. You have to stand out in a crowd of perhaps 50 to over 100 other applicants. That’s not easy to do – no matter how great of a writer you are.

You Want to be a Writer – So What?

Telling someone you want to be a writer, whether it is a publisher, editor at a newspaper or some random employer looking for some articles, means nothing. I once told an editor I wanted to be a writer. His response?

“So why are you standing here telling me that? Go write something”.

He had a point.

Saying you want to be a writer means nothing to anyone who wants to hire you. You have to write, prove you can write and more so prove you want to be a writer. Standing around saying it doesn’t mean anything. Those that really want to be writers get up, write, get the job done and do what it takes to become a writer. Weird how that works out right?

What is Writing Really Like?

I get a lot of questions from people asking what it is like to be a writer. I tell them it’s a lot of work. You have to read, research and be up-to-date on just about everything. You have to be crafty and witty and take a boring topic and make it interesting -- not something everyone can do, even real writers. If I can give one bit of advice to those who want to break into freelance writing, here it is:

· Never be late with your work. It shows you are lazy and undedicated to being a writer.

· Never be selfish with your work hours. If you want to survive and make a living, you better learn to fashion your hours around that of people hiring you.

· You want to write? Then quit reading this, quit telling people what you want and sit down and do it.

Freelance writing is a harsh, highly competitive and grueling industry. You will be given horrible feedback, yelled at, and scrounging for work some days. If you love to write and really want to be a writer, however, you will make the most of what you have and you will find just how easy it is to actually break into the industry.

How to Work from Home as a Freelance Writer Successfully

2012-01-24T10:03:00.000-08:00

The issue with the term “work from home” is that most people hear this and take it too literally. They become lazy, irresponsible and just assume that they are going to make it big or become wealthy overnight – all of which are wrong. So how come so many people work from home as a freelance writer and make a successful living, but you can’t? Consider some of the following:

The Work from Home “Dream”

Those that want to work from home as a freelance writer often do so not because they love to write, but because they want to make money and work for themselves – this is issue number one. The other “dream” misconceptions of working from home as a freelance writer:

· I can make my own hours

· I can be my own boss

· I can choose when I work and how much I work

· I can write on whatever I want to write

· I can become rich working 20 hours per week

· I can be a writer; I did good in school

Let’s talk about these “dream” misconceptions and how most likely they are destroying your chances of ever being a successful freelance writer.

I Can Make My Own Hours: Yes and No

Sure, you can make your own hours, but do those hours work around the people you are writing for? As a freelance writer, you still work for someone in terms of writing. What if that client is available 6am to 4pm, but you only work 5pm to 11pm? How will you contact your client with issues or questions? If you answer “I’ll wait until the next day”, then right there is your freelance writing failure. Though you can make your own hours, you still have to plan those hours around your clients.

Bottom line: If you are selfish with your hours, you might be surprised how many clients you lose or don’t get altogether.

I Can Be My Own Boss: No

A freelance writer still works for someone and answers to someone. Whether it is an editor at a newspaper, CEO of a copywriting company or the owner of a company you are writing a press release for, you answer to some sort of client and that client is, technically, your boss. If they are unsatisfied, they fire you. Therefore, if you think you will work from home as a freelance writer successfully by saying you work for no one, then you have just axed your chances of writing successfully.

Bottom line: Even great authors like Stephan King and John Grisham report to an editor at their publisher’s office and they still have to report on time and do the job. Everyone answers to someone.

I Can Choose When I Work and How Much: No

You can pick and choose what clients you take on, but that’s as far as your power goes. Clients will give you assignments, which might take you longer than your scheduled hours. If you don’t do it, you won’t get more work from that client. It’s quite simple. Those looking to work from home as a freelance writer need to be flexible with their working hours, flexible with how much work they take and always strive to do the best. Why? Because one week you may have work and the next none.

Bottom line: Take what you get when you get it, get it done and do it no matter how long it takes.

I Can Write on Whatever I Want to Write: No

If you have been freelancing for years and built up a large enough clientele or work for a newspaper, then yes, you can. However, most who start to work from home as a freelance writer do not have that luxury. Therefore, being an avid researcher is important so that you can write on any topic presented to you. You cannot just pick and choose. If you do, you will be surprised at how little you make.

Bottom line: Learn to research and learn to write on what you are told to write. Pretend you are starving and work is your food. Take the food you get so you don’t starve to death tomorrow.

I Can Become Rich Working 20 Hours Per Week: No

The whole “get rich, work less” jargon was created by the schemers of the work-from-home industry. They lure people in saying work 15 to 20 hours per week and make $5,000 per month from home. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. This is no different with working from home as a freelance writer. Freelance writers have to work long hours, long weeks and sometimes for little pay. Even famous writers work more than 20 hours per week. Do you think Stephan King wrote all of his novels working when he felt like it or just 10 hours per week? No. Stephan King writes a minimum of 2,000 words per day for eight hours per day the entire week. Sure he’s rich, but he didn’t get there nor keep himself there only working a few hours a week.

Bottom line: If you think you will make it big working a small number of hours per week, you will be surprised at how little you make. Get to work and get working hard.

I Can Be a Writer; I Did Good in School: No

Those who want to work from home as a freelance writer often fail because they say they are a good writer. Writing a term paper in school is nothing like writing a 400 word article on the effects of a prescription drug and hair loss or installing a vinyl fence. Those who look at freelance writing as “homework” ultimately fail. Those who are passionate about writing, who write naturally and without effort are the ones that are successful. You have to be naturally witty, entertaining and more so conversational. A client that asks for an article on vinyl fences doesn’t want a book report. They want something interesting for their readers to learn from.

Bottom line: Not everyone is cut out to work from home as a freelance writer. Just because you were good in school doesn’t mean you are good at professional writing.

10 Home Business Ideas You Can Start Now

2011-11-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

Are you bored of your job or fancy a career change, ideally having a vocation that takes place in the comfort of your own home so you don’t need to brave winter weather or traffic jams? Working in your pajamas sounds enticing but you don’t quite know how to work from home? Unsurprisingly, it can be a difficult leap to quit a steady job with regular income to take the plunge into working at home, especially as it invariably involves starting from scratch, building up a regular client base and having uncertain income, at least for a while.

Don’t despair, though; there are so many ways to earn a living at home that the Internet is awash with sides offering work from home ideas, meaning if you’re stuck for what to do you can just try something you found online. It shouldn’t be too difficult deciding a career path anyway, especially with the Internet’s limitless potential. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a Wild West rootin’ tootin’ gunslingin’ poker player born in the wrong time (or the cigar smoke and guns frighten you a tiny bit) then you could try your hand at online gambling – you can play in your robe without fearing for your life.

There are more sensible ways on how to work from home of course; eBay has opened the doors for countless people to make a living selling their unwanted items, which might be more a hobby than career. However, there’s nothing to stop you purchasing wholesale items and selling at reduced rates online, or finding bargain goods at garage sales and making a profit on the most famous online auction site. For the more romanticised ideals of working from your home office you could focus on your talents and put them to good use; for instance web design is a good option in the web-dominated world of today, or freelance writing to provide words to the legions of new websites.

For something a bit different to the ordinary work from home ideas, you could try something like photography. Admittedly this will involve venturing out of the house to take photos, but that will be as and when you feel like it – and it’s not like taking photos will require formal dress and a commute to the office. Armed with your incredible pictures, you could sell them at markets or use your web design and writing skills to create your very own online store to sell them.

Working from home is a dream for many and a genuine departure from the rat race. Once you have chosen one of the many work from home ideas you’ll be well on your way to vocation freedom.

10 Ways to Be the Best Freelance Writer

2011-10-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

A freelance writer’s career is only as successful as the writer. Ill-informed articles, poor grammar or dull content are three things that will not only get your article rejected, but also give you a bad rap as a writer. Take a few tips to improve your writing and your overall writer profile.

Research

Research any article before you write it. This goes for web content, articles, advice and even blogs. Never write an article that you have not recently researched, even if you are an expert in the field. Even experts need research to back them up.

Use Personality

Show a little personality in what you write. Don’t write boring drab after boring drab and expect readers to stay interested in what you have to say. No matter the topic, there is always a little wiggle room for personality. Find your personality and flaunt it in in anyway you can within the article content...even if you are writing about garden slugs.

Be Authoritative

A writer that writes like a student is not one that is respected. Write each and ever piece like you are an expert in the field. Take action, take authority and show you expertise, even if you had to research the article in order to get it.

Capture with Intro’s

A boring introduction leaves the rest unread 90 percent of the time. After all, the intro is a reader’s quick peek at what the rest of the article will be like. Therefore, an introduction should capture attention of the reader and make them crave to read more.

Update Your Resume

With each job you complete, it should go straight to your writer’s resume. Even if you only wrote one article for a company, it still goes on your resume. A writer’s resume is an important tool, especially when you begin branching out into more respected writing positions. So update, update, update.

Branch Out

Never be a one-trick-pony. If you have expertise in gardening, write about it, but not only it. Branch out into other fields such as home improvement, food or perhaps fashion. The more topics you have experience with, the more marketable you are to other companies. After all, what restaurant will hire a writer to do food descriptions if all they have done in the past is write about dental offices?

Market Yourself

As a freelance writer, you have to find the work -- it doesn’t find you. Therefore, you have to sell yourself. If you are not confident in yourself, then employers are not going to be confident enough to hire you. Market yourself, be your biggest fan and sell yourself like you are selling a car. A successful freelance writer is truly a sales person in disguise.

Get Feedback

After each job, article or content is said and done, ask for feedback. Ask about your quality, your voice and anything you can improve on. Not only do employers respect this from freelancers, most will hire you again. This gives you an edge on the market as well because you know what employers are looking for and have already improved your weaknesses.

Use the Feedback

There is no point in asking for feedback if you don't apply it. When an employer tells you you need to learn to find better research references, then start looking into more authoritative and reputable sources to plant in your arsenal. If an employer says your introductions are dull, then read and educate yourself on how to write a captivating introduction. A book I found helpful for writing introductions: Point Made: How to Write Like the Nation's Top Advocates

Educate Yourself

The best freelancers are constantly educating and reeducating themselves. Start reading and constantly update your resource library with new editions of style books, new writing guides and improving your overall writing quality. The more educated you are, the higher up on the pay scale you will go. Writing is like a canoe trip -- paddle your way to the end or just sit and float.

Suggested Reading: The Freelance Writer's Bible -- Something ever freelance writer should own.

Where to Blog: Don’t Put All Your Blogs in the Same Basket

2011-10-04T10:58:00.000-07:00

Ever heard the phrase “don’t put all of your eggs in the same basket”? Well the phrase is there for good reason when it comes to the blogging industry. There are too many blogs already on the internet and your blog has to stand out in that one large basket with millions of eggs. So how do you make money off blogging?

Use Multiple Sites

If you are using just one site to host your blog, you are limiting yourself to one opportunity. There are multiple places to host a blog. While some are free, others come with such an affordable rate that any blogger can justify it. For free blogging, look into sites like Blogger.com or Wordpress.com. Pay for blog hosting at sites like GoDaddy.com or BlueHost.com. Check for future posts about where to host your blog with both free and paid sites listed.

Spread Out Ideas

One idea can easily be turned into five ideas if you think about it. A blog about cake decorating for example can be turned into DIY cake decorating, reviews on cake decorating products, cupcake decorating, fondant and gumpaste decorations, and wedding cakes. Take the branched out ideas and turn them into new blogs. So now you have five blogs spanning on the Internet with your one central idea. That is five chances, instead of one, that someone will find your blog out of the millions out there. Just think what you can do if you do that same procedure 10 or 12 times.

Have Multiple Blogs

Multiple blogs on the same topic are also a good idea, especially when you post a few on one site, a few on the other and so on and so forth. Some bloggers will have over 50 blogs, all that centralize around the same genre, but vary just slightly. Use a few free blogging sites to host a few ideas, then move to paid sites for a few more. Slowly build your way up to having multiple sites, because if you dont maintain them all, then there is not point in having them.

Link, Link, Link

No matter how many blogs you have, they all should be able to link back to one another. Links are automatically recognized by search engines like Yahoo, Bing and Google. Therefore, linking on your blog to another blog or multiple blogs won’t go unnoted. Even if your blogs do not all relate, find a way to tie them together or link them out. This will bring page visits to all sites, but also increase traffic and opportunities for visitors to click on pay-per-click ads or perhaps purchase a product from a certain blog. So link, link, link whenever you can find the chance.

Suggested reading for the blogger ready to earn money:

10 Ways to Spot Work from Home Scams

2011-10-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

Legitimate work from home jobs are hard to come by, especially in a time where the Internet is in full force and the work economy going down hill. More employees are looking for self-employment status through work from home jobs, but just a basic Google search brings up numerous questionable at home job opportunities. So how do you spot a legitimate work from home job and what is a red flag? Consider some of these common red flags for at home opportunities before giving any personal information out.

Too Good to Be True

Jobs that offer you the chance to make thousands of dollars for only 10 hours a day of work are the biggest red flag, yet these at home job scams capture the attention of hundreds each day. If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.

Up-Front Payments or Fees

The second largest red flag for at home job scams is the requirement of an upfront payment or fee. An employee should never have to pay to get a job or work for a company. Any company that requires employees to pay a fee to get hired, fee to buy specialized equipment or up-front payment are typically scams.

Wiring Money

If a company requires an employee to wire them a fee or wire funds in order to test a direct deposit, they are certainly a scam. Employees should go through proper channels for direct deposit, but first should have a job, have a contact and be employed with the company before giving out any personal information.

Refusal to Provide Contracts or Written Agreement

Work from home jobs consist of contracts and written agreements. Any legitimate at home job will provide an employee with a written contract or agreement stating their employment status, payment, etc. Companies that refuse to provide this should receive an automatic red flag.

Grammar/Spelling Errors in Job Posts or Company Site

Look at the company’s website. Is it poorly put together? Are there numerous spelling and/or grammatical errors? Do sentences read right? Any company website that is worth looking into will have a well laid out website with no spelling errors or grammatical issues.

Not Listed or Bad Ratings with the BBB

Check the company at the Better Business Bureau. If they are legitimate, they will have a registration with the BBB. Check for any complaints against the so-called company name as well for possible scam alerts.

Free or Poor Website Hosting

A legitimate work from home job will be from a company with a good website. Free hosting sites such as Geocities and Bravenet are common hosts to Internet scam sites. A company that takes the time and funds to pay for web hosting is usually a good start.

Contact Information

Visit the company’s website for contact information. Companies should have local numbers and addresses listed under their contact information. Sites that only list P.O. boxes or free email addresses such as Hotmail, MSN or Gmail are a red flag.

Flashy Testimonials

A company does not need to list testimonials from employees to get new ones. Any company that flashes testimonials from employees praising how great the company is and more so, the large amount of money they made from it, should be flagged. Though some companies are legitimate, most are baiting you with made up praises.

Extensive Application

Legitimate work from home jobs have legitimate job applications. Any company that uses an application that requires extensive personal information should be red flagged. This information includes banking information, social security numbers, spouse information, etc. No employee should have to provide personal information until they have been officially hired for a company -- even if they are conducting background checks.

Find work from home jobs in the writing and outside of the writing field as well as work from home how-to's at our affiliate The @ Home Employee.

End of Week Report

2011-10-03T15:22:00.000-07:00

It was a slow week for writing. Not because I didn't have the assignments, but because I was sick and therefore, didn't feel like working. Tomorrow starts a new work week for me, which means a lot of makeup work for last week as well.

Tip of the Day:
Working for one client is never a good idea in the freelance world. Just because one is consistent and offers great pay, does not mean that company will be around all the time to take care of you. Always, always, always have two clients working at once. That way you are not left completely without income if one of them decides to let you go without warning.

This weeks earnings: $480
Goal: $750

Next week's goal: $750

Types of Freelance Writing Jobs

2011-10-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

Do you enjoy to write, but want to work from home? Well, the freelance writing industry has taken off as a popular way to work from home, make a living and do what you love. Freelance writing is not for everyone, but luckily if you enjoy to write you can find a niche that works for you and possibly turns into a rewarding at-home career.

Content Writers

Content writers have unlimited possibilities in today’s freelance writing industry. Since more companies are turning to the Internet, the demand for quality content is growing. Content writers will write web pages, articles and provide the written word for websites consumers visit every day. To be a content writer, freelancers need to be familiar with SEO and learn how to be a quality writer at a fast pace to earn a worthy dollar. Read up on "Writing Online" -- a helpful guide to learning about SEO, finding online writing jobs and how to be successful in the content writing world.

Medical

Doctors offices and pharmaceutical companies are looking for technical writers that can create brochure content, newsletters and more professional pieces that focus on medically-related topics. These types of writers must be very accurate and on task.

Technical

Technical writers work on the how-to industry for computers, technology and software. Companies often require that their technical writers have experience in the industry as well as some sort of degree or education in computers or technology. Writers interested in technical writing would benefit from reading "From Idea to Print", which guides technical writers into the industry step-by-step.

Copywriting, Marketing/Advertising

Writers that can create a pitch and sell a product should look into copywriting for marketing and advertising. These types of writers strive to get consumers to take action, purchase a product, sign up for a service, etc. You have to be a successful salesman via the written word to work in this industry.

Catalog

Catalog writers are still in popular demand. This type of writer has to sell a product, write a back story and create an intrigue in the customer’s mind to purchase a product. These products range from books to clothing to jewellery and the writer must write to compel a person to buy. Demand is still there for this type of freelance writer, but requires experience in writing to get into the industry.

Bloggers

Bloggers are growing in popularity over the past decade, but are typically independent. Though some companies will hire bloggers for their company, most individuals start their own blogs and monetize them. Note that the blogging industry is extremely competitive and requires extensive work on your own, with little rewards in the start. Refer to the Blogging page for more information about blogging for pay.

Resume

Resume writers are in high demand. These individuals write attractive resumes for businesses and private individuals. This can be done through resume service companies or independent companies. Writers interested in resume writing should read "The Resume.com Guide to Writing Unbeatable Resumes" before signing up for resume writing careers.

Business Plans

With today’s economy dwindling, more small businesses are popping up on the radar. In order to fund their dreams, these small business owners must get private funding, which requires an extensive business plan. Writers interested in business plans are required to have business and finance backgrounds, specifically in business plans. Follow up on getting into the business plan industry with "Anatomy of a Business Plan" for step-by-step business plan instructions to increase your skills.

Want to get into the freelance writing industry? Aspiring freelance writers can get inside information on each of these categories in the Savvy Freelancers Guide eBooks coming soon. Become your own boss and take care of your financial security...the savvy way.

BAD EGG ALERT!

2011-09-30T14:49:00.000-07:00

American Diversified Publications

685 E. I-10 Service Road

Slidell, LA 70461-5501

Phone: 1 (800) 688-0295

These wonderful people stole an article I published on ezine as well as stole a blog right from this very blog here and reposted it on their site. Not only did they swap out the author name with their own, there is no link or credit to my writing the original article or where they received the article.

I have reported this company to Ezine as well as called an attorney. Copyright infringement is a serious crime and not tolerated.

Not only does this company claim to help people, like freelance writers, to get jobs, but they apparently steal from work-from-home freelance writers as well.

9 Ways to Make Money Blogging

2011-09-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

So you started a blog. You have good content and you have a marketable idea, but how do you make money off it? Like most bloggers, you are stuck trying to make some money and create a passive income, but the information on how to do that just isn’t out there. Believe it or not, the information is there, just not out in the open. If you are looking to make some money from your blog, check into a few of these passive income strategies:

eBay Affiliates

The eBay Affiliate program provides bloggers with the ability to link products sold on eBay that relate directly to their blog content. These posts can be turned into widgets on the blog or embedded right in the post text. For each item purchased from your blog, you get a percentage (typically 4%) of the earnings.

Amazon Affiliates

Amazon works like eBay, in which you post links to Amazon products on your site. In return, if a customer clicks on a link posted on your blog and purchases the product, you get a percentage of the purchase price. Unlike eBay, Amazon rewards affiliates by productivity. So the more you sell, the higher your percentage.

Google Adsense

Adsense by Google is one of the easiest ways to make money blogging. Some blog sites, like Blogger.com, offer the ability to add an Adsense widget and you are done. Nothing to maintain, nothing to code, the ads show up, users click them and you get paid every so many clicks per advertisement.

Pay Per Click Advertising

Pay per click advertising is just that, you get paid each time someone clicks on an advertisement. Google is the most popular pay-per-click or PPC, but there are others like Yahoo and MSN that offer PPC advertising for bloggers.

CPM Advertising

CPM or Cost Per Thousand (M) are advertising companies that pay bloggers per viewing of their advertisement, rather than clicks. That means that for every 1,000 views of an advertisement on your blog, you get a paid percentage.

CPA Advertising

CPA or Cost Per Action pays out more than PPC or CPM methods, but these require the visitor to actually act. Whether it is signing up for a newsletter, requesting a quote, etc. Most CPAs will pay bloggers $25 to $65 per action, whereas CPMs and PPCs only pay $0.50 to $1.00 per click.

Self-Made Products

You can promote your blog and make some money with self-made products. For example, you host a humor blog. Create funny slogans for t-shirts, coffee mugs and even calendars and sell them directly on your blog as well as other sites. This is a two-in-one since you will promote and make money all in the same action.

Surveys and Polls

There are many companies out there, usually CPMs that will pay you to host surveys and polls on your blog. In return, you will get a share of the earnings. Companies such as Vizu Answers, let you sign up and select a type of poll that is similar to your blog’s content.

Donations

Earn cash for your blog just by asking for donations to keep it running. This method usually only works for blogs that have loyal readers, but also a large fan base. Furthermore, you need interesting content that makes readers want to pay to read more. Ask for small donations and you might be surprised at how large they can get.

10 Tips for Beginners to Create an Awesome Blog

2011-09-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

A blog is no longer just a place to park a few thoughts. A blog is now a business, an income and a place to share your personal experiences, expertise and even your products. Unfortunately, you are not the only one coming up with the savvy idea of a blog, which is why you need to stand out in the crowd of thousands of other sites just like yours. Utilize Savvy Freelancer’s tips for creating the best blog.

Tip 1 – Create Personality

A blog is not anything people want to read if it has no personality. The best blog site offers personality, information and something entertaining.

Tip 2 – Post Consistently

Maintain your site with consistent posts. Posts once every other month or even every other week will not keep readers coming back to the site. Write up posts and submit them at least once per week or announce when posts regularly come out to keep readers coming back for more.

Tip 3 – Don’t Go Overboard

Do not create a site that has your weekly ramblings or have posts be over 500 words long. The average reader loses interest after 400 words; therefore, gear your posts to something the average reader will read, enjoy and not skim through.

Tip 4 – Have a Solid Idea

The most unsuccessful blogs do not have a solid idea. Instead they bounce back and forth from one idea to another, without consistency. Create one solid and very simple idea and stick to it. If you want to veer off course, then create a new site for that new route.

Tip 5 – Allow Comments

Enjoy the feedback of your readers by allowing comments. This will help you gear your next posts toward what people want to hear, get feedback and even have a little insight from others just like you in the same topic.

Tip 6 – Use Titles

Don’t skip on post titles or site titles. These are what search engines often attract; therefore, the title you use should be SEO optimized and attract visitors. The title should also be eye-catching enough in your blog for people to click on it and want to read it.

Tip 7 – Have an Audience

Decide the audience your site will speak to. The best blogs utilize one particular audience. Are you talking to the younger generation? Such as teenager? Or are you geared toward those headed into retirement? Make your posts, language and personality all focus around the main audience type.

Tip 8 – Be Visible

A private site is one that will not have traffic. Make sure posts are set to “public” status for visitors to read and enjoy.

Tip 9 – Be Social

Social networking is a best-friend to the best blogs on the internet. Create a Facebook, Twitter and MySpace page geared toward just your site. Drive traffic to that site with extensive friend lists and followers.

Tip 10 – Use Pictures

Visual helps a lot of readers. Use pictures to enhance posts, especially if posts are how-to related. Do not use other sites posts. Create your own picture to enhance and entice readers to read further. The best blogs will have picture galleries, examples and more to keep the reader interested.

End of Week Report

2011-09-27T06:34:00.000-07:00

Freelancing is up and down and this week has proven that. A travel company I normally work for not only cut work unexpectedly, but then did not pay me two weeks worth of work, which totalled over $500. Just goes to show a point brought up several times -- prepare for the unexpected. Therefore, the goal of $750 for the week did not happen since the workload changed rather unexpectedly.

Tip of the Day: Always have a backup writing client. Never just write for one client, because that one client can and just might, cut work without notification and without pay.

This Week's Goal: $750
Actual Earnings: $502

Next Week's Goal: $750

The Savvy Freelancers Guide!

2011-09-24T09:19:00.001-07:00

Announcing the Savvy Freelancers Guide. This set of eBooks includes how-to advice, guides and step-by-step instructions for success on blogs, article writing, writing a novel and even eBook publishing. Links to come soon! Check them out.

Tips for Making Money off Blogging: Affiliate Programs

2011-09-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

So you have created a blog, but how do you make money from it? Though you can sell products directly from your blog, this type of passive income takes months if not years to show any results. Instead, bloggers can make a lucrative blog by just posting advertisements through affiliate programs.

What is an Affiliate Program?
Basically, an affiliate program pays you a commission percentage when people buy a product or visit a website via your blog. Typically programs pay between four and nine percent commission, depending on how much traffic you bring in, how many products you sell, etc.

There are hundreds of thousands of affiliate programs out there, but to be successful with an affiliate and actually make money, you need to use them properly.

Who Reads Your Blog?
Before signing up for an affiliate program, ask yourself a simple question “Who reads this?”. Your audience is the first deciding factor in what type of affiliates to post on your site. For example, if you write about cake decorating, then you want culinary and cake decorating supplies listed on your site, not iPads and computers.

Be Genuine
Do not just promote any and ever product on your site. Instead, be genuine about the links and products you promote. Using the cake decorating example, if you are trying to teach people how to frost a cake, but tell them they need a particular tool, advertise that particular tool. Use a tool that you use or have used and you actually recommend.

Correlate Advertisements
Make sure the advertisements you use correlate with the blog post you are writing about. Do not just post random banners for Amazon or eBay all over your site. This will not only limit the chance of anyone clicking on it, but limit your income.

Strategically Place Your Links
Don’t just put a link at the bottom of the page and assume a reader will click on it. Even the best products need strategic placement. Position your advertisements in a hot spot of the page instead.

Drive Traffic
You won’t make money from your affiliate programs if you do not have traffic coming to your site. The more people that visit your site, the more likely a few of them will actually click on those links. Blogs that only have 100 visitors per day might make some money, but blogs that have over 1,000 visitors per day will really make the money.

Don’t Be Obvious
Do not be obvious about your affiliates or that you are outright trying to make money from your blog. Pushy advertising and sales is what drives people away from your blog. Instead, be subtle, be crafty and most importantly, be smart about how you advertise.

Keep Track
Check monthly reports from your blog and posted affiliates. See what types of links got the most attention and from what posts. Use that data to create more successful post/link combinations on the blog to optimize commission sales.

Check out Savvy Freelancers “Guide to Making a Successful and Lucrative Blog in 30 Days” eBook for tips on how to use affiliate programs, 50 affiliate programs that work and strategies that will make you money before the month is over.

Tips for Using Freelance Websites

2011-09-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

A freelance writer’s best friend is the site that combines all of the country’s clients in one centralized location. Sites such as ODesk, Guru and Elance are all great sites for freelance writers looking for a quick job, extra money or perhaps a permanent position. Though these sites protect the freelancer, there are still ways to get scammed. Since I have tried them all, I have compiled a few tips for working your way through jobs in freelance sites, getting paid and avoiding scams.

Create a Profile

Employers want to see a resume when you apply and the same goes for freelance sites. Don’t just sign up for an account and apply to jobs. You won’t get any. You have to complete a profile on the site that includes information like experience, past work and even a few links to writing samples. The more proactive you are with your profile, the more job offers that will come to you, rather than you coming to them. Treat it like a resume and fill in every section. If the site offers tests, like ODesk.com does, then take the tests.

Market Yourself

Freelance sites have thousands of writers with active profiles listed; therefore, a writer literally has to stand out in a crowd. Market yourself by offering up all of the information required in the profile including samples, resume, links to previous work, past clients, etc. Prepare a cover letter when you bid on jobs and sell yourself to the company. Tailor your cover letter to the type of job -- such as a little humor for a posting looking for a comedy writer.

Free Samples?

Employers on freelancing sites often ask for a sample to make sure your writing abilities match what they are looking for. Though most companies have honest intentions, there are some that post jobs, accept samples and use those samples instead of paying writers to work for them. If a client requests a free sample based on a topic they present, proceed with caution. Require that the company either pay for the sample or offer links and examples of past work you have done instead. If the company only wants a free sample based on their own keywords, most likely they are fishing for free work.

Scammer Alert

Freelance sites try to protect freelancers, but scammers still get in. Never sign on with a company that asks for your social security number, personal information or sounds too good to be true. For example, clients that offer writers the chance to write their own book for thousands of dollars and no cost to them, are usually scams.

Name Your Price

When a writer first sets up a profile on these types of sites, they are required to name and hourly and per article (or word) rate. If this is your first time on that particular site, it’s time to be reasonable. You cannot expect companies to pay you $22 per hour, even if you have the credentials. Clients on these sites want to see feedback from other customers on the site and in your work history WITH THAT SITE before paying you anything worthy. So set your prices lower than expected until you build up a good work history on that site.

The Reality of it All

Freelancer sites are a great way for writers to make money, if they know how to work it. The bottom line is if you sign up with the expectations to make thousands of dollars that month, you will be very disappointed. Instead, be realistic. Follow the steps listed here and you can find success or even land a great job from one of these sites.

Visit the Where to Work page for user reviews and a list of freelance sites to work for.

…My personal experience? I found a great job writing travel articles and updates for Expedia.com from a freelancer site (ODesk.com). They paid $25 for 500 words and $35 for 650 words. Not too shabby for working at home and writing about Paris in my pajamas.

End of the Week Report

2011-09-17T10:04:00.000-07:00

Normally I end my week on Sunday morning, however today I could not find my writer's mojo. I woke up at 6:00am with every intention of writing, but it seems cleaning was more appealing to my tired mind.

Each week I set goals for how many articles I will complete and an overall earnings goal. This week my goal was a rather simple one -- $500. Every freelance writer should set a weekly and monthly goal. This is the last week my goal will be $500. In fact, next week's goal is $750 and the week after that I'm bumping it to $1,000. Time to buckle down, work and get ready for Christmas -- that means new schedule.

Tip of the Day:
Set a schedule for your work week. Whether it is two hours one day and 10 the next; a schedule will get the job done. For example, I have a schedule based around my son's visitation, school and life in general. I work Tuesday through Saturday (taking Sunday and Monday off). I wake up each day at 6:30 to start working and try to have everything done by 2:00pm. On days my son is at preschools (two days per week), I set higher daily goals since I have more alone time to get them done. No matter the day, I still try to get done by 2:00pm. What's your schedule? Feel free to share your opinion on schedules and what works for you.

So how much did I make this week?

This Week's Goal: $500
Actual Earnings: $656

Next Week's Goal: $750

Can you really make money freelance writing?

2011-09-17T08:34:00.000-07:00

I get this question a lot from family, friends and random Joe’s that ask what I do for a living. The answer is “yes and no.”. In all honesty, YES you can make money freelance writing, but NOT if you do it wrong. Did that help? Didn’t think so.

Freelance writing is a lot like gambling. You have the odds stacked against you and have to hope you pick a winner in order to score big. Some clients will pay well, others will not. When first starting out, you will not make much money without working 80 hours per week and for little to no money. Once you build yourself a hearty portfolio, however, you will get better paying jobs and eventually work when or as much as you want.

The problem with freelance writing, however, is you do not and never will have a steady paycheck. As with any self-employed job, you control how much you work, but also where that money goes and how much money comes in. One week you could make $2,000, but the next week drop to $500. With the pay going up and down worse than the ocean tides, you need to be money smart, organized and savvy in order to actually make money.

Over the next couple of weeks I will post a few blogs that help freelance writers make money, but also survive during the slump times. Check back throughout the week for the updated posts (the link will be active once the article is posted in the Tip Section):

· Making Your Money Work for You, Not Working for the Money (Passive Income)

· Keeping BUSI: Budgeting, Underestimating, Saving and Investing

· Paying Yourself Last

· The Basket, the Eggs and Where to Put Them

· How to Find Freelance Work Locally

· Making Money Even in Hard Times

Getting Paid as a Freelance Writer

2011-09-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

Freelance writing is almost like gambling. You pick a client and then have to hope and pray they actually pay you when the work is complete. If you go through freelance website, they help reassure writers that they will get paid, but not always. In fact, many of those sites do not ensure a payment if a writer accepts a flat fee for services. So how do you get paid? Aside from finding paying clients, you need to be organized, efficient and learn how to invoice.

Keeping Organized
If you are like most writers, you write for more than just one client. So you need to keep track. Create a spreadsheet that tracks the work you do based on the week and month. Use a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Tabs at the bottom are set up for spreadsheets representing each month of the year. Then in each month's spreadsheet it is broken down by the week. Have one column for the client name, assignment title/project description, pay rate, date submitted and a check box for when its invoiced and another for when it is paid.

Invoicing
Invoicing is optional, however even if clients do not require one, it is best to start a paper trail. Invoice weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, depending on how the client pays. Use a general invoice template, but modify it to have a column for the title/project, amount and date it was submitted to the client by you.

Contracts
Even if you accept a job through a freelance website, create a contract. A contract that states what work you will do for the client, what your pay rate is and especially what dates they pay you are extremely important. Have the client sign the contract and give them a copy before any work/payments have exchanged between the two of you. Clients will not only respect you for creating a contract, but also in the event a client does not pay, you have a contract in writing that they owe you for services for small claims court.

Keeping Track
As payments come in, it is important to track where the money comes from, who paid, balances owed and taxes owed by you. For full-time freelance writers, it is best to use professional accounting software set up for a small business such as Peachtree or Quickbooks by Intuit. That way, come tax time, you are organized and ready to fill in the forms, without tracking down bank statements.

Timing Yourself
Some freelance writing clients pay hourly. Though this is rare, when you do find one, you need to track time accordingly. Some sites, like ODesk.com, already have built-in trackers for hourly employees. There are other situations, however, you will not have a built-in tracker. Use tools such as Instant Boss or download a timer application for your smartphone or desktop to track hours. Write down hours immediately and make sure you can account for everything you did in that billable hour, even if it was just research or proofreading.

Working from Home (and Actually Working) as a Freelance Writer

2011-09-15T13:37:00.000-07:00

Sure working from home is just about anyone's dream. You wake up, get dressed (or not), sit down and start typing away. Perhaps even enjoy a hot cup of coffee. No traffic, no fancy suits, no boss....it's a workers dream! The only problem is you are at home and not at work -- that means no "work mode".

Whether you have children, a spouse or just live alone, there are going to be distractions that prevent you from getting the job done. You tell yourself you can go shopping all day and you will work later. You can watch a few movies and you will work later. You can sleep in and you will work later. All of these are excuses I have used myself. The problem is, the further out of "work mode" you get, the less gets done as time goes on. Eventually you struggle to even work for an hour. So how do you actually work? Well, everyone is different, but after two years of working from home straight (and still making a living), I have come up with a few tips to get the job done (no pun intended):

GET READY: Sure you want to work in your favorite pajamas, but would you show up to the office like that? Though you dont have to put on a suit and tie to work from home, getting ready with a shower, brushing your teeth and hair and putting on clothes for the day will make a difference.

CREATE A WORKSPACE: Not everyone who works from home has the luxury of a spare room for an office, but if you do, I suggest making an office where you actually work. Set up a desk with your computer and all the fixings just like you would if you worked away from home. If you dont have the space for an office, still set up a desk/work area. Even if that means taking away a corner of the living room and dedicating it to a workspace.

CREATE A SCHEDULE: You may work from home, but you still have to work. Only this time you have the luxury of making your won schedule. Look at what is going on around you -- what time the kids get out of school, wake up/go to bed, what time your spouse gets home.

Basically, if it happens in your house or in your life, then it needs to factor into your schedule. If you have to, schedule blocks of time to work, even if they are chunked throughout the day. I, myself, have a two year old who I plan around. I wake up at 6:00am Tuesday through Saturday to do an hour of work just before he gets up.

Unfortunately, working from home isn't for everyone. Some people need that schedule, need that boss and need that structure. Give it a solid effort for a month and see how you do. It takes time to adjusting to being your own boss, but in the end, you have to weigh the pros and cons of working for yourself and actually making money. Working for yourself means you supply insurance, you supply the work, you make sure you get paid, you set the schedule and YOU make sure YOU work.

Bottom line.

Who Am I?: Path of Writer Discovery

2011-09-12T10:35:00.001-07:00

Some people wake up and just know what they are going to be as they get older -- they are the lucky ones. Or perhaps the foolish ones? I too thought I knew what I would be when I “grew up”. Boy was I wrong. If someone asked me ten years ago what I would be when I got older, a writer would not be the answer. So how did I get here? Good question.

As I was growing up I always thought I would be a doctor. Who wouldn’t want to be a doctor? The money, the prestige, the status!? I went through high school and even college ready to take on the medical field. I sought out a Bachelor in Psychology and minor in Biology. I was even pre-accepted to medical school and studied the MCAT like it was the test to save my life. So did I go to medical school? After almost $30k in student loans, I did not. Where did I go?

I went to culinary school! I loved to cook, so why not be a chef? Granted, I think this was a good career choice, however, the culinary/restaurant field was not for me. I enjoyed making wedding cakes and doing cake art, rather than making a slab of beef look like perfection on a white plate. I opened my own catering/wedding cake business and did quite well for a few years. I even competed in cake competitions and showed up to wedding expos. However, after years of taking the beatings of brides and their insanity, the love and passion I had for wedding cakes really went out the window. I felt lost, stuck and certainly broke.

By this time I had a one year old son and was recently separated from his father, whom I loved staying at home with. I decided I wanted to work from home. Though, anyone who has had that dream knows there is nothing but scams out there. So I started looking into freelance sites. I could freelance as a virtual assistant, but what a boring job that seemed like. Then I saw writing. I had always been a talented writer. I wrote my own novel at 13 (which today I’m sure would be laughed at by any book publisher or editor) and I constantly blogged. Why had I not thought of writing before? I signed up for a few freelance writing jobs -- mainly content or cheap articles; all of which paid a measly $1.00 per 500 words.

I continued to work my butt off for little pay, but then I started getting more jobs and more offers for writing. Before I knew it was offered $17 per hour or even $20 per 500 word article….and now here I am….still writing.

I think I was destined to be a writer. Words come naturally to me, but I still have that ability to showcase a little personality, even if it’s an article about mulch (yes, I have done that). Took me 27 years to find my path and now I’m on it. Working on my own novel, a screenplay and I am still writing articles for companies and all from the luxury of home. It was hard work to get here and it will be hard work to get further, but at least I found my dream.

My son is now two, almost three. I live with the most amazing man who loves my son and I and supports me in what I do. I work every day to be a good mother, a good friend, a good partner and of course, a good writer. Working from home isn’t easy, but I am doing what I love with the people I love and that is all that matters to me.

Welcome to my life…the life of a freelance writer.